Swapping into an older car? 62 plate Focus to 57 plate golf GTI

MissChief

MissChief

MissChief

Caporegime
Joined
17 Jul 2010
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i currently have a 62 plate Mk.3 Focus Zetec S 182 Ecoboost and while it's perfectly adequate it's just a bit, well, boring. It does nothing badly and everything satisfactorily but I feel I'm just not gelling with it. I've had it since October, bought on 37k miles and have put about 5k miles on it, most of it on A roads or motorways. I own the car outright having used a loan to purchase it originally.

Anyway, at the time I really wanted a Golf GTI and being without a car for nearly four weeks had to buy something quickly and the Focus came up locally so moved quickly to snap it up. There didn't seem to be a good local Golf GTI anywhere within a hundred miles in the colour or spec I wanted. Now one has come up, a 57 plate so five years older, 62k miles, five door in blue. No Satnav (not hugely bothered by this, rarely travel far enough to make use of it and easily retrofitted) and the advert is thin on interior shots.

Anyway, is there a site which tells me what options this car has? I know there's one for Fords. And am I asking for trouble? Obviously there are bits that will be starting to wear out and some history of a slight leak on a shock absorber and two new front tyres needed. Advice and discussion appreciated.

It would also likely free up £1.5-2k depending on my bargaining skills with the dealer.
 
Jono8 said:
I wouldn't bother. I would rather be inside a MK.3 Focus than a Mk5 Golf and you probably won't notice much in the way of a power increase.

Also with a 2.0TFSI at that age, you will probably get tired of filling up the oil every thousand miles if it drinks like a lot of them do.

I am sure mountune do a ford approved map for that engine which will take it likely on a par or just above the GTi in the power stakes.
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They do but it's not just a map. It's a new airbox and intercooler too and it's £1k for 20HP!
 
Having messaged the dealer the Cambelt was last done five years ago and it doesn't have cruise so its out. Would still like to try a GTI though.
 
Dav4 said:
Your Zetec S is probably worth 7k ish private. I can see your point about it being boring but they are a nice modern looking car that's still fairly new.
I have bought older cars in the past as I prefer more power to a newer slower car so I get your point of wanting to swap and put some money in the bank.
The Golf GTI of that generation is not very fast 200bhp 0-60 7.2 secs so I doubt your going to get much more fun out of that.
Why are you not considering a 2006/7 Focus ST for 5.5k? A £300 remap with no other mods will take it to 265bhp and a shed load of Torque at low revs now that will be fun!
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Tax and MPG put me off, but I don't do that many miles it's true.
 
I don't specifically want a golf, I just want something a bit more involving than what I currently have. I may just get it bluefin'd and see what happens.
 
paradigm said:
Golfs are nice, but they are NOT involving to drive. One of the reasons they are "nice" is that the driver is quite heavily detached from feeling any input.

Get something RWD, relatively sporty and learn where it's breaking point is. For reference, I can have more "fun" in my 140BHP MX5 than I can in my 310PS S3. That said, I'd rather commute or go on long motorway jaunts/holidays in the S3.
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Sadly I need three seats minimum, occasionally four or five!
 
Audi cars always seem to have any fun removed, because ze Germans do not like ze fun!

Looking at Focus Mk.2 ST's they don't seem to have three rear seat belts? Not even a lap belt?
 
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dale1uk said:
If you've got £6k and looking at 10yr old hot hatches have you not considered what was regarded as the best of that period, the Megane R26 F1? Great chassis, 230bhp, LSD, Brembo 4 pots, Recaros.
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tom_nieto said:
Was just about to post this. Surely this will be the most involving FWD hatch that you can buy at this money?
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Ive never really liked the looks. Although the 5 door looks better.
 
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